I am creating a database from scratch for a scrap metal company in the UK, I have limited experience in MS Excel and have created some sort of database, however I reckon their are loads better software packages out there that are simple to use for a novice like me - any suggestions?
Have you looked in to FileMaker Pro? It's a good balance between ease-of-use and functionality, especially if you aren't heavily in to database development
It sounds like you're new to the database world, but you may benefit from a data modeling tool to help you conceptualize how the database will operate, and to identify things that could use some normalization. I know some who use Visio for some rudimentary schema design, but Toad Data Modeler is free, powerful, and can target a large number of databases (like Oracle, MySQL, Access, etc).
After you create the diagram of your database, you should choose a database engine to use. If your accustomed to MS Office, then natural progression would be to use Access. It's just fine for small databases. Another popular database that is also free is MySQL. It might be overkill, however, for something that won't be heavily utilized.